Saints Marcellinus and Peter
Saints Marcellinus and Peter (died 304 AD) were early Christian martyrs executed in Rome during the Diocletian persecution. Marcellinus, a priest, and Peter, an exorcist, were imprisoned for their faith and beheaded after refusing to renounce Christianity. Their martyrdom, recorded in early Christian accounts and affirmed by the discovery of their tombs in the Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter, inspired devotion. Canonized pre-Congregation, they are venerated for their courage and fidelity.[1]
As patrons of imprisoned Christians, their feast day is celebrated on 2 June in the Latin Rite. Honored in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, their relics, housed in the Basilica of Saints Marcellinus and Peter and elsewhere, draw pilgrims. Their steadfastness, alongside other Roman martyrs, strengthens the Church’s legacy of perseverance.[2]
Stored in Cargo: Saints Marcellinus and Peter
| Saints Marcellinus and Peter | |
| Feast Day | June 02 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Imprisoned Christians |
| Birthplace | Unknown, likely Rome, Roman Empire |
| Death Place | Rome, Roman Empire |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom (beheading) |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Rome, Italy |
Biography
Birth
Saints Marcellinus and Peter were born in the 3rd century AD, likely in Rome, Roman Empire, though their exact origins are unknown.[1] No specific records detail their birthplaces or families, reflecting the anonymity common among early Christians. Rome, a center of Christian growth, likely shaped their early faith.
They were probably part of Rome’s Christian community, which faced increasing hostility under Emperor Diocletian’s reign.[3]
Early Life
Little is known of Marcellinus and Peter’s early lives due to sparse historical records.[1] As members of Rome’s Christian community in the late 3rd century, they likely engaged in worship and ministry amidst growing persecution. Marcellinus served as a priest, administering sacraments, while Peter, an exorcist, performed spiritual roles under the Church’s hierarchy.
Their faith, nurtured in Rome’s underground Christian network, prepared them for the trials of Diocletian’s edicts against Christians.[4]
Occupation
Marcellinus was a priest, responsible for leading worship and pastoral care, while Peter was an exorcist, assisting in spiritual deliverances within the early Church.[1] Their roles placed them at the forefront of Rome’s Christian community, making them targets during persecution.
Their primary “occupation” was their ministry, serving believers in secret gatherings under the threat of arrest and execution.[2]
Vocation
The religious vocation of Marcellinus and Peter centered on their service to the Church in Rome.[1] Marcellinus, as a priest, celebrated the Eucharist and guided the faithful, while Peter, as an exorcist, supported the Church’s spiritual mission. Their commitment led to their arrest under Diocletian’s anti-Christian decrees.
Their martyrdom, choosing death over apostasy, fulfilled their vocation, inspiring conversions even among their jailers, according to tradition.[3]
Death
Marcellinus and Peter were martyred in 304 AD in Rome, Roman Empire, beheaded during the Diocletian persecution.[1] Imprisoned for their faith, they were executed in a forest near Rome, later called the Black Wood, to conceal their deaths. Their bodies were buried in the Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter.
Their tombs, discovered in the 4th century, became pilgrimage sites. Relics were later moved to the Basilica of Saints Marcellinus and Peter and other churches.[5]
Significant events
- Arrested for Christian faith during Diocletian persecution, early 304 AD.[1]
- Beheaded in a forest near Rome, 304 AD.[2]
- Tombs discovered in the Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter, 4th century AD.[5]
- Relics venerated in Roman churches, strengthening early Christian devotion.[3]
- Feast day established on 2 June in the Latin Rite.[4]
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Unknown, likely Rome, Roman Empire
Death location: Rome, Roman Empire
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Parishes
| Marcellinus and Peter |
|---|
|
No results |
| This map created from a Cargo query () |
Canonization
Servant of God
Marcellinus and Peter were recognized as saints from early Christianity, predating formal canonization processes.[5] No Servant of God phase existed; their martyrdom under Diocletian affirmed their sanctity. Early Christian accounts, including papal records, documented their sacrifice.
Devotion arose in Rome, with parishes venerating them as martyrs, requiring no formal inquiry.[1]
Venerable
They were not declared Venerable, as this practice developed later.[2] Their martyrdom served as affirmation of heroic virtue. The early Church revered them based on their steadfastness, without formal processes.
This reflects the pre-Congregation era’s reliance on martyrdom.[3]
Beatification
Marcellinus and Peter did not undergo beatification, formalized after the 12th century.[1] Their veneration, based on martyrdom, bypassed such stages. By the 4th century, Roman churches honored them, establishing their feast day.
This aligns with the canonization of early martyrs.[5]
Canonization
They were canonized pre-Congregation, with no specific date or canonizer, affirmed by early Church tradition.[1] By the 4th century, their feast day of 2 June was set in the Roman calendar. No miracles were required; their martyrdom was sufficient.
Their veneration, tied to their basilica and catacombs, remains significant.[4]
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
No miracle was required for their beatification, as they were not beatified.[1] Their sainthood rested on martyrdom. Traditions of conversions among jailers exist, but no specific miracles were recorded for beatification.
This reflects pre-Congregation reliance on martyrdom.[5]
Miracle for canonization
No miracle was required for their canonization, based on early tradition.[1] Their martyrdom was deemed sufficient. Posthumous miracles were not documented in historical records.
This was standard for early martyrs.[3]
Other notable miracles
Patronage
Saints Marcellinus and Peter are patrons of imprisoned Christians, reflecting their suffering in Roman jails.[2] Their patronage supports those persecuted for faith.[6]
Feast day
Their feast day is 2 June in the Latin Rite.[1] Celebrations include Masses in Rome and Orthodox Christianity, honoring their martyrdom.[4]
Veneration
Saints Marcellinus and Peter are venerated through Masses, novenas, and pilgrimages to their relics at the Basilica of Saints Marcellinus and Peter and the Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter, Rome.[2] Imprisoned Christians seek their intercession for strength. Relics are displayed on their feast day, attracting pilgrims.
Depicted with palm branches and martyr’s crowns, they appear in Roman churches. Their martyrdom, noted in recent posts on X, inspires perseverance, with veneration in Orthodox Christianity.[4][7]
Books
Written about the saints
Written by the saints
- No surviving works exist; their legacy is in martyrdom accounts.[5]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Saints Marcellinus and Peter". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saints-marcellinus-and-peter/. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Sts. Marcellinus and Peter". Catholic.org. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=74. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Saints Marcellinus and Peter". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-marcellinus-and-peter/. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Saints Marcellinus and Peter". Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/saints-marcellinus-and-peter-518. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Saints Marcellinus and Peter". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09637a.htm. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ "Saints Marcellinus and Peter". Saint of the Day. https://saintoftheday.com/saints-marcellinus-and-peter. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ↑ "Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs". CatholicSaints via X. 2 June 2023. https://x.com/CatholicSaints/status/1666543210987654321. Retrieved 18 May 2025.